MISBEHAVIOUR by children as young as seven is to be targeted in an initiative to be launched by British Education Secretary Charles Clarke, reported the London Evening Standard.
The newspaper said that 'clampdown on yobbishness' by the youngest schoolchildren is designed to nip the problem in the bud before the youngsters reach secondary school - where teachers face the worst discipline problems with older students.
It will form part of a wider strategy for primary schools, which also expected to include moves towards easing the burden of testing on seven-year-olds, the paper said.
An Education Department spokesman told the Standard: 'Behaviour issues will be part of the document. It will involve working with parents, pupils and teachers on improving behaviour.'
However, he was unable to confirm newspaper reports that parents of misbehaving pupils will be required to attend lessons on how to improve their children's discipline.
Pilot projects in 25 local education authorities will include time set aside in the school schedule to teach problem pupils to attend classes and respect adults and one another, it was reported.
